Numbering Waypoints in a GPS - any clever methods ?

But Peter , what if I , or a friend using my waypoints , is travelling in a different direction . He would get to one and wonder which way to go .
But if I renamed all my waypoint numbers by adding TW orTW or TN and maybe XX for destination to the number, it should help - what do you think ?
Willie .

Willie,
Yep I understand and I actually do use Oziexplorer and put all those types of notes into it and then print out a copy as a backup to the GPS.
If you create a route it's much easier but by the same token the GPS will point to the selected waypoint therefore showing the direction to travel regardless of how that point is approached. All GPS have different ways of doing the same thing so I'm not sure how your system would indicate the direction to travel.
Whatever system best suits you is the one to use - it's your GPS and so long as you understand your system it doesn't really matter to anyone else.
Good luck with it - they're a great little invention and I wouldn't be without mine for a minute
Peter

JG ,
I have a log book for my last three journeys to the Pilbara and the deserts , but to have to consult them constently is a pain . I need a better system which tells me something when I look at the WP code and number .

An embarrassing situation occurred last time I was in the Rudall NP. A guy I met at DQ Baths wanted to know where the CSR bore was on the road north . No problem said I proudly , I have it marked on my GPS .
But to my dismay , I had about four GPS marks in that area showing me different info and I could not tell him which was the turn-off because I could not remember where I had put that log book - I felt a real dummy . Luckily it is well signposted for him .

It is OK for me when I am travelling , because when I actually arrive at an old mark , it is obviouse what it is , but I need a better system giving me extra info now - not just a number . But to try and abbreviate words to fit in is also to difficult although at the actual bore I could have has CRABORE , but not at the turn-off ( though in this case they are only 100m apart so it would not have mattered )

When I started designing and selling fishing rods , it seemed stupid to me that the model number meant nothing , so I devised a system of numbering that would be able to be read and understood by all our salemen and customers . Instead of XYZ - 1498 we used XYZ-661 or 662 which meant 6'6" one piece or two piece so that no matter what length the rod or how many pieces , you new by just looking at the model number what it was . It seems so bloody simple and now a lot of companies in the industry have used the same method .

I need to build that sort of code to add to my waypoint numbers .

Thanks ,

Willie

OK Willie - that's fair enough. I guess it doesn't matter if you name them straight away - or name them back home - you still need to have a naming convention.

I would suggest you a "prefix-number" system. Use the prefix to define "types" of waypoints, and the number to identify it as a uniqiue waypoint of that type.

For instance, for prefixes:
BORE = bore
PB = Parking bay
XTW = intersection, turn left
XTE = intersection, turn left

Then you may have 3 waypoints very close to each other such as:
BORE01, XTW04, XTE02
You should then be able to easily identify which waypoint is which by looking at the prefix

But whatever you come up with, needs to be easily understood by you. Don't worry about a standard. It would be hard to get everyone agree to a standard. If you give out a waypoint list to anyone, just include a "key" to explain what each prefix means.

That should have rad CRA bore -

JG ,
That is good except that the number would have to go first I think , or the GPS would not store them in order - my wife says I'm anal retentive , obsessive compulsive , so order means a lot to me !
X for intersection or Y for splitting roads or T for T intersection would be great - now where getting somewhere .
So it could be :
44 TNE - WP Number 44 , T intersection , go North East .
That is perfect , thanks for your help .
Bugger , what am I going to do if there is more than 4 incoming roads !
Cheers ,
Willie .

Very good Willie. I personally not worried about the order they are stored in. But my preference doesn't matter - it is your system that you are developing - and what really matters is that the system suits YOU.

Happy re-naming!!!!!

Hi Willie,
My Magellan GPS has the capacity to create a message which is attached to each waypoint that is created. This way when you are browsing through the database of waypoints you have saved any comments you have included show up in the message box at the botom of the screen, and its not as limited in terms of the number of characters available for use. This may be the sort of thing you were looking for - or not. Keep playing with, you never know what you will learn.
Happy camping,
Mike.

Hi Bonz ,
The marks I put in are actually ones I have made at the location - in case I or a friend may want to come this way again . I am not a local in WA and I go on Tagalong trips to remote areas . So Iam costantly marking waypoints for future use .
I would never mark a waypoint 44TL or 44TR because , as you say , one day you might be travelling in the other direction . But I reckon 44TW or 44TNE might be the go . What do you reckon ?
Your system of marking waypoints onto the GPS before leaving is a good one . I have been looking at areas we are going to next June on Google Earth and have marked a few waypoints into my Great Desert Tracks Magellan software to do the same .
For the numbers , I want to keep using the auto assigned number which the GPS gives me . That way I always know what numbers have already been used .
Thanks for your help ,
Willie .

I still reckon the directions would get me confused. I have shied away from using the GPS auto numbers rather wanted something meaningful rather than just a number, and so not having a mapping GPS origially I wanted to wpt towns etc. Doing x-roads etc would add to the complexity and if you were going to follow the route again same way then using the direction would be a good idea.

Hi "Rambler",
I use an FX324 MAP Colour which they have now discontinued .I am not sure until I check whether it can add a message as your Gold one can . When you add that message , does it show up on the GPS screen ? If it did , woudn't it get very hard to read if you had say five waypoints close together ?
I am a numb nut with hi-tech stuff , so be gentle with me !
Thanks ,
Willie .

Rambler ,
I appreciate your help . I could not do it today , but tomorrow I am going to set it up in the car and try what you have told me .
Thanks a lot ,
Willie .
PS nice barra at Karrumba !